Civilian deaths: HC asks panel not to submit report without its nod

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed the judicial commission, probing 17 civilian deaths in the Valley during protests in July last year, not to submit the final report without its order.

Vacation Judge Sunil Hali also issued notices to the state government and the judicial commission headed by Justice Bashir-ud-Din in connection with the petition filed by the CRPF.
After hearing CRPF counsel, the judge yesterday directed the inquiry commission not to submit the final report without permission of the court.

The petition sought quashing of the notification under which the state government appointed SHRC head Justice (retd) Syed Bashir-ud-Din to head the inquiry commission and Justice (retd) YP Nargotra as its member on July 29 last year.

"Petitioner has lost faith in the commission of inquiry (COI), particularly in the chairman, and in case the said commission is allowed to proceed with the inquiry, it is sure to indict the law abiding and innocent CRPF troop," the petition, filed by Special Director General CRPF (J&K) and Inspector General (Ops) CRPF-Kashmir, said.
The CRPF petition stated its apprehensions are based on the July 30, 2010, statement of Bashir-ud-Din that was published in various local newspapers, particularly in Srinagar.

It also annexed photocopies of the news reports and stated from the said statement the petitioners have reasonable apprehension that the chairman of COI has a "biased and prejudiced mind and hence a fair impartial enquiry cannot be expected from him."